Greater New Orleans

UNO Alum Crain Qualifies for Final Round of PGA Q-School

NEW ORLEANS - University of New Orleans alum Casey Crain qualified for the final stage of the PGA TOUR qualifying process last week by shooting 1-under par at the conclusion of four rounds of competition at Redstone Golf Club in Humble, Texas.

Crain finished in a tie for 11th in a field of 70 golfers, in which the top 19 finishers and ties qualified for the final qualifying stage, scheduled to take place Dec. 1-6 at Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge in Winter Garden, Fla.

The native of Lacombe, La. will be one of approximately 156 players competing for a chance to play on the PGA TOUR. The top 25 players, plus ties, earn PGA Tour cards for the following year. The next 50 players plus ties after the top 25 earn Nationwide Tour cards for 2011.

Crain was one of two UNO alumni participating in the second stage of PGA TOUR qualifying. Fellow alum Jose Toledo did not advance out of the second stage after shooting 1-over during four rounds of play at the TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas.

Toledo shot three consecutive rounds over par before bouncing back with a 4-under 68 during the final round of competition.

Crain played at UNO from 1997 through 2001, earning a spot on the Sun Belt Conference's All-Time Golf team named in 2006 after 30 years of the league. Crain reached the second round of qualifying in 2009 and has bounced around the professional circuit, ranking No. 29 on the money list for the 2010 NGA Hooters Tour this past year.

Toledo was a member of the UNO men's golf team under head coach Chris McCarter. A two-time Louisiana Sports Writers Association Player of the Year, Toledo qualified for the NCAA East Regional as an individual in 2007.

In 2010, Toledo competed on the Adams Golf Pro Tour, capturing the East Texas Open in April. Toledo finished second on the AGPT money list and third in the tour's Player of the Year standings. Tour alumni include current PGA professionals Bubba Watson and Ryan Palmer.